Hi everyone, I’m reaching out on behalf of my sister and her sweet little boy, Kyler, who is just 2.5 years old. Over the past few months, they’ve been searching for answers after noticing he was struggling with balance and experiencing frequent falls that often led to him hitting his head. After many doctor visits and a sedated MRI on March 26th, what started as a concern for ventriculomegaly quickly turned into something much more complex. Kyler has now been diagnosed with a tethered spinal cord, along with an extra vertebra in his lower spine, which makes his condition more severe than typical cases. Because of this, Kyler is scheduled to undergo spinal surgery on April 13th to “detether” his cord. This is a delicate procedure, and his recovery will depend on what doctors find during surgery. He is expected to spend about a week in the hospital, primarily in the PICU due to potential complications like CSF leaks, followed by 6–8 weeks of strict activity restrictions. After surgery, he will also require ongoing care through physical medicine and rehabilitation at Vanderbilt, focused specifically on spinal injuries and recovery. This has all happened so quickly, and as you can imagine, it’s been incredibly overwhelming. In addition to navigating the unknowns of surgery and recovery, my sister and her family are facing mounting medical bills, hospital stays and travel to Vanderbilt, time away from work, and caring for Kyler while also supporting their three other children at home. We’re asking for support to help ease the financial burden during this time so they can focus fully on Kyler’s healing and recovery. If you’re able to give, share, or simply keep them in your prayers, it would mean more than we can express. Every bit of support truly helps. Thank you for surrounding Kyler and his family with love during such a difficult time.